MHRA study highlights gut bacteria links to common medicines
Some commonly prescribed medicines, not just antibiotics, may affect gut bacteria in ways that influence how treatments work, according to a new review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the University of Glasgow.
The review, published today, 23 December in the journal Nature npj Antimicrobials and Resistance, brings together evidence showing that a wide range of medicines can alter the balance of bacteria in the gut, which plays a key role in digestion, immunity and metabolism.
Researchers say these changes could help explain why people sometimes respond differently to the same medicine, or experience side effects that others do not, particularly when taking more than one treatment at the same time.
The study highlights evidence that medicines used to treat conditions such as diabetes and mental illness can affect gut bacteria, even though they are not designed to target microbes.
Metformin, a widely used diabetes medicine, has been shown to alter gut bacteria in ways that may contribute to both its benefits and side effects, including bloating and diarrhoea.
Antipsychotic medicines have also been linked in studies to changes in gut bacteria associated with weight gain and metabolic effects.
Dr Chrysi Sergaki, senior author of the review and Head of Microbiome at the MHRA, said: “Antibiotics are well known to affect gut bacteria, but this review shows that some other common medicines can also influence the microbiome.
“Building this understanding helps us identify where better data could improve drug development and, ultimately, patient care, while also supporting the responsible use of antibiotics.”
The review also notes that the gut is a major reservoir for bacteria carrying resistance genes.
Disruption to the balance of gut bacteria may give resistant organisms an advantage, potentially contributing to the wider problem of antimicrobial resistance.
Dr Anastasia Theodosiou, a co-author of the paper at the University of Glasgow, said: “This paper is an important step towards recognising the microbiome as something we need to protect, and towards designing and testing medicines that are not only more effective, but also safer for our microbiomes.”
The MHRA said it is working with researchers to develop improved standards for studying how medicines affect the gut microbiome during drug development, where appropriate.
The agency is also exploring new ways to better predict side effects and interactions between medicines, including through the Yellow Card Biobank and the use of artificial intelligence with anonymised NHS data.
Patients are advised to continue taking their medicines as prescribed and not to stop or change treatment without speaking to a healthcare professional.
Check live fuel prices near you before you set off.
Spotted something? Got a story? Email news (@) deeside.com
NEW: Add Deeside.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Latest News
